“The questions that are now being asked (by the media) are more cutting-edge, more informed. I think there are more and more of those people today. I think it’s a good thing.”Kevin Kietzman, 810 AMGH: Are the questions being asked by the media today more cutting-edge than ever before? I’m not so sure. There are MORE questions asked by MORE members of the media but in my opinion the quality of the questions hasn’t perceptively improved. I still hear plenty of dull queries with very little insightful or courageous follow-ups. An example is Nate Bukaty’s perceived testy responses from Ned Yost. After Ned grumbles his nightly reply, Nate rarely fires back with a follow-up to challenge Yost’s non-answer. For my money, the local press conferences too often are all too friendly. KK’s short spat with Pioli last week was good theater – but KK and the rest of media in the room allowed Pioli to quickly wiggle free with nary a scratch.

“Talk radio is how it started changing – the immediacy of it. The listeners have it made now. They don’t have to wait for the daily newspaper. It’s online, it’s everywhere! It’s wonderful!”Jack Harry, 810 AMGH: Talk radio used to be where you got your breaking news. Now the radio jocks are just as beholding to Twitter and the Internet for their info. It is how they package their news and entertainment that makes talk radio a destination for listeners.

“We’re going to stay on live here with some interviews from Chiefs camp through the six o’clock hour. BTL continues LIVE from Chiefs camp after six o’clock!”Kevin Kietzman, as his Friday show came to a close, 810 AMGH: Nick Wright reportedly missed last Friday’s show to attend a funeral and then has spent the first three days of this week on vacation. Early trends for the next ratings’ book favor Kietzman’s show over Wright’s. As the football season grows, look for 810’s numbers to do the same.

“(Tyson Jackson) guaranteed me he’d have his best season as a Chief.”Steven St. John, after speaking to Jackson at training camp, 810 AMGH: SSJ is excited about Jackson’s potential improvement this season because of his off-season work with an MMA fighter. SSJ said Jared Allen attributes much of his pass-rush success to his work with an MMA trainer. If the Tyson’s MMA trainer was able to somehow inject Allen’s motor into Jackson, we might have a decent defensive lineman. Jackson, and the number-three overall pick, remains a huge negative on Scott Pioli’s resume as a GM.

“I don’t get to sleep much.”Bill Muir, Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, 610 AMGH: Muir will turn 69 in October and he looks every day of it plus a decade. He looked old, tired and ready for Charlie Weis’ scooter when I saw him at training camp last Sunday. If anybody thinks Muir is going to call the Chiefs’ offensive plays this season, they better first petition the NFL for an 80-second play clock.

“We are very fortunate to have someone of Bill’s caliber take over the role of offensive coordinator. Bill’s depth of experience, his championship success as a coach and as a coordinator is widely respected around the league, and he will serve our young and veteran
players very well and provide critical continuity as we continue to develop on offense.”Todd Haley, earlier this year after announcing Muir’s promotion, KCCHiefs.comGH: Translation: “I will be calling the plays.”

“On paper, the Eagles are the best team in the NFL.”Carrington Harrison, 610 AMGH: Adam Schefter tweeted on Tuesday that he is hearing a number of unsigned free agents are now interested in signing with the Eagles for less money – just to be with what they perceive to be the team to beat. One thing I have not heard discussed about why the Chiefs have not been as successful in signing free agents is that the Chiefs may not be an attractive franchise to NFL players. Viewed from outside KC, the Chiefs are a franchise that has no playoff success and is frugal with salaries. The power of BBQ can only do so much.

“I think if they go 4-12 all we’re going to hear from fans is that people are livid that they spend no money in free agency and they’ve got a low payroll.”Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM

“I think more money should have been spent (in free agency). If they don’t impress me this year, I think I’m done after 28 years (as a season-ticket holder).”Caller to Kevin Kietzman, 810 AMGH: This caller has struggled through the past decade of Chiefs’ football and he picks this season as his do-or-die deal breaker? Scott Todd inherited a mess of a franchise from King Carl and rode a sweet schedule to the playoffs in their second season. That is success. With the killer schedule the Chiefs face this season, 4-12 is a real possibility. I
would regard 8-8 as continued progress.

“There is a story there with Justin Houston – I’m telling you. Boy, they’re good at protecting it.”Kevin Kietzman, on the Chiefs’ unsigned third-round-draft pick, 810 AMGH: The story goes like this. Justin Houston has a chance to make a lot of money playing in the NFL or he can fall back on his three years of education at Georgia and see what that’s worth. So far the star of this story is a dummy.

“I’ve been covering this (Chiefs’) team for 40 years and I’ve seen every head coach (and front office). This is the best time! These people are the most accommodating… I have a lot of faith in this new administration. Boy, did they get it turned around in a hurry.”Jack Harry, 810 AMGH: Harry is giddy that Pioli makes time for him in a one-on-one setting. Mad Jack was gushing just as emphatically about the Royals back in March – the same Royals he now bashes with glee. Jack changes his opinion about the teams he covers as quickly as racks up three-putt greens.

“They’re very controlling.”Kevin Kietzman, disagreeing with Harry’s opinion on the friendliness of the Chiefs to the media, 810 AMGH: I side with KK on this one. Mad Jack thinks this organization is accommodating? Has he had to park his car at Arrowhead for $27 lately?

“He is the best Royals player since George Bret. It’s a lot of pressure but I expect him to be in the Hall of Fame.”Kevin Kietzman, after Hosmer was named the AL’s Rookie of the Month in July, 810 AM

“I wonder if Eric Hosmer is going to get the Royals rookie record for most tail? Who holds that record anyway…Mark Quinn?”Greg Schaum, of PinetarPress.com, TwitterGH: Any reports out there of young Hosmer cutting a swath through our city’s fairer sex? He is well positioned at first base to window shop at The K.

“Wish the idiot Jen on the Kia spots would go away…FOREVER! Hard enough to sit through the Royals, I have to watch her nonsense every break.”Jake Gutierrez, of 810’s Border Patrol, TwitterGH: Jen of the KIA commercials has taken on a life of her own on Twitter. And it’s not a good one. I find her shtick embarrassingly lame. But she is supposedly a pro. Her website identifies her as Jennifer Plas, “A two time Emmy® award winning Executive Producer. Ms. Plas has also had a successful acting career in Kansas City for the past 12 years as well as in Los Angeles.” Her two Mid-America Emmy Awards were for a local TV program I’ve never heard of that she produced called, “The Power of KC.” According to her website her career credits include; “Barren”, Patrick Rea’s comedy, “Get Off My Porch” and his Emmy® nominated, “Now That You’re Dead”. Her feature films include Patrick Rea’s “Empty Acre” and David Story’s “Play On.” Success is often
in the eye of the beholder. I don’t know a Royals’ fan who doesn’t want to buy a
Ford and run her over.

Share this:

Related

About Greg Hall

Software guy who has been writing my Off The Couch column in KC newspapers, publications and websites since 1994. Has been bounced from some of the finest media establishments this side of State Line Road. Dad first and everything else second...and there are a lot of everything elses.

Using that, the Chiefs are looking at 6-5 with five too close to call, and that’s being generous by giving the Chiefs two wins over the Broncos and going 3-3 or 4-2 in the division. This schedule is brutal – tough road games plus last year’s Super Bowl teams both at Arrowhead.

Nick took vacation after attending a funeral? At the start of Chiefs’ camp??
Who green-lit that request at Entercom?
That is absolutely insane. I can’t recall a time where anyone at 810 took vacation anytime after the last week of July (start of training camp).

I can understand taking a few days off for bereavement, but giving your competition ANY excuse to gain/claim the upper hand is just not prudent.
Save the vacation for the last week of preseason, or the bye week.

As part of my anger management therapy I turned on 810 to see how long I could listen before I took the machete to the dashboard. KK and Nate were moaning about the Chiefs, and everyone in sports, business and politics, wanting to control the message on their websites….which by the way they can also monetize!

I’m smelling some buyers remorse. I’d love to get a copy of the Chiefs and Union Broadcasting contract. Methinks somebody got taken advantage of. Oh Chad?

Nick being “on vacation” will be the perfect excuse for his August numbers being off. Wait and see if that’s not a “reason” that gets tossed out. 810 could broadcast in Portugese during football season and still stomp 610.

When I look at Eric Hosmer my gaydar goes off. What if he does play for the other team? How’s that weiner gonna get handled? And then some idiot called in and suggested the Royals offer Hosmer 180 million for 15 years.

When I heard Muir would be the OC I said 6-10. It will go as well as the last time a line coach was OC. Haley is putting a huge target on his back by calling plays again. If he had just hired Zorn as OC he would have had a credible hire at the time and someone to blame if Cassel and his collection of offensive weapons don’t produce.